Teach kids to stay far away from the Dark Web

Have you ever heard your older kids or teens talking about Tor? If so, you will want to dig in and find out more right away! Tor (The Onion Router) is the main way to get into the Dark Web, without anyone being able to identify the user or track their activity. In the wrong hands, it is used to access illegal and dangerous content. While Tor itself is not the Dark Web, it is one of only a few ways to access it.

One middle-school boy asked his parents to let him download Tor on his school laptop, saying that the school internet was too slow and this would allow him to do his homework faster. When his parents pressed him to learn more, they discovered that his friends were using it to bypass school filters and play games and music at school. Fortunately the parents did not let him continue with this plan.

Tor is free and easy to download, and gives anyone the key to the most horrific and dangerous content down in the depths of the Dark Web.

What is the Dark Web?

In a nutshell, the Dark Web (or Dark Net) is part of the internet – but it’s hidden deep within. That’s why people need special encrypted software such as Tor to access it.

Many of us access only a fraction of the total internet. We stay on the surface and mostly browse the Open Web. This is anything that can be publicly viewed using a search engine such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. As vast as it seems, it is only about 10% of what is on the internet.

The next level of browsing is the Deep Web. This is where a much larger percentage of the Internet exists, and you can’t get to it unless you are authorized. A lot of the Deep Web is made of ordinary password-protected sites such as government, banking and financial records, subscription sites, legal documents and medical records.

“Have you wanted to talk to your kids about pornography, but didn’t know what to say?! I’ve felt that way for quite some time and finally found a solution – Good Pictures Bad Pictures. . . I highly recommend this book to all people with children. A must have for all parents!” – Amazon Review. CLICK HERE to learn more about Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids.

Child exploitation is rampant on the Dark Web

In fact, The Washington Times began the New Year with this headline: Darknet keeps exploding child-porn epidemic a step ahead of prosecutors. Today, one child sexual abuse image posted on a message board can quickly reach tens of thousands of views. This alarming reach is “now the norm for the seedy corners of the internet known as the darknet, where access to child pornography is growing at an astonishing pace.”

Why are we warning you about this? Because your tweens and teens may have heard about Tor or have friends who use it. They may even have downloaded it. You need to be able to recognize what it is in case you hear your kids talking about it or you discover it on their devices.

Instructions on how to use Tor (and other anonymous browsers) are easily found on the open web, and curious kids might be enticed to explore. They probably would not intend to use it for anything disturbing, but they could unintentionally find their way into some terrible places.

Tips for parents about the Dark Web:

Education and open conversation:

Ask your kids what they already know, and then build on that.

Part of the attraction to the Dark Webis the mystique associated with it. Take charge and educate your child about the real dangers such as child sex trafficking, sextortion, and accidentally viewing child abuse images or other illegal activity.

Ground-breaking study links changes in kids brains with screen time

11,000 kids. Twenty-one research sites. 300 million dollars. Ten years.

These are the building blocks for a landmark research project being conducted through the National Institutes of Health. They are studying the effects of screen time on the brain development and mental health of 9- and 10-year old children. The study will follow them through their tween years and on to young adulthood.

Brain scans showed significant differences in brain structure in kids who spent 7+ hours a day on devices versus those who did not.

Brain changes included a premature thinning of the brain cortex in kids who used devices most heavily. The cortex is the outermost layer of the brain that processes information from the senses.

There is data to support that kids who spend more than two hours a day with screens score lower on thinking and learning tests.

“We’re in the midst of a natural kind of uncontrolled experiment on the next generation of children.” Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Seattle Children’s Research Institute

What can parents take away from this study so far?

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that parents should avoid letting children younger than 18 to 24 months use digital media, except video chatting.

Tristan Harris, a former Google manager, warns that kids are being caught in the crossfire of technology’s war for attention.” Today’s devices are designed to keep users engaged – there is a built-in addictive quality to them that we cannot ignore. And kids who have gone through a digital detox are reporting the benefits of decreased screen time.

Our kids are growing up in a digital revolution! And it’s hard to tell what things are going to look like on the other side. We can model good digital citizenship through our own responsible use of technology, and guide our kids with a thoughtful plan that gives them appropriate responsibility with age.

The new Dyno Smartwatch could be just right for your kids

Looking for a way to stay in touch with your younger kids without giving in to the smartphone pressure? This product may be what you’re looking for! Coolpad has unveiled a new smartwatch for kids ages 4 – 9.

A geofencing function that alerts parent if their child goes out of an established geographic boundary or “safe zone”

An SOS button on the side so that kids can call emergency contacts or 911

It also counts steps. Maybe it will encourage kids to move around more!

This kid-friendly watch is minimal by design. Coolpad did not want to build a device that had kids staring at another screen. So kids can’t connect to the internet, play games or download apps.

The watch retails for $149.00 plus $9.99 per month for a service plan (it works on 4G LTE network). It will be available at the end of January.

While this device is meant to be a safer alternative to an internet-connect smartphone, remember that no device is foolproof. The kid’s smartwatch is a relatively new industry, and as with all technology, parents should use their discretion with how and when to introduce devices.

It’s already deeply disturbing when children are exploited by adults. What influenced these children to seemingly choose to share exploitive images of themselves? Did pornography play a role? We don’t know for sure, but it certainly seems likely.

“Pornography is often a main factor, and sometimes the only factor, that influenced a child to act out in a sexually harmful way.” Heidi Olson, RN

Their images have been distributed and perhaps shared widely – compromising their identities, privacy, and safety. We truly hope the emotional needs of the children and their families will be cared for.

News reports such as these are wake-up calls. Our kids are on the front lines of a sexualized culture that seeks to disrupt and undermine their integrity and well-being. Resolve in 2019 to be prepared and not scared.

Get your free guide for Top 10 Easy Conversation Starters!

These simple ideas will help you talk to your kids about staying safe from pornography. Click below for your copy!

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Stacey Dittman lives north of Toronto with her husband and two sons. She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature and a master's degree in Language and Professional Writing.
Stacey has used her writing and research skills in the government, non-profit and small business sectors. She is thrilled to be working with Protect Young Minds to help empower parents with the latest available information and resources. She enjoys hiking and playing tennis with her family and working with junior high kids in her sons' youth group.

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Led by Kristen A. Jenson, author of the best-selling children’s book Good Pictures Bad Pictures, Protect Young Minds™ (PYM) seeks to help parents “porn-proof” their kids before they come across highly addictive and easily accessible internet pornography.